Sinop - Picturesque & Historical Resort City Near The Black Sea

SİNOP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinop,_Turkey

Situated at Turkeys northernmost point, Sinop was once the city of the legendary Amazon warrior-women. Today it is a major Black Sea port. Sinop is one of the most beautiful natural seaports of the Black Sea Region. It is one of the oldest cities of the region and is the birth lace of the philosopher Diogene. Sinop provides unbelievable beauties to its visitors with the beaches which lie one each other.

Various stories are told, most of them laced with myth, about the origin of the name of Sinop, which was used as a harbor and military base by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Seljuks, the Candarid principality and the Ottomans. Widespread legend has it, for example, that Sinope was the name of the beautiful daughter of the River god Aesop of Greek mythology. Zeus fell in love with Sinope and, at her wish, settled her in the Black Seas loveliest spot, the place where Sinop, in its time-shortened form, is located today. Various Hittite tablets indicate that the place was called Sinova in the Hittite language. The Assyrian warrior-traders who came to trade here way back in those times called the city after their own moon god, Sin. In the language of the original mariner-settlers the name was apparently Sinavur. And the Amazons, who lived in both Sinop and Samsun, are said to have had a queen by the name of Sinope, whose name they gave to the city.

Sinops extant monuments include a ruined ancient citadel rebuilt during Byzantine and Seljuk periods, some isolated columns and inscribed stones built into the old walls and dating from the early Greek and Roman periods, and the Alâeddin Camii (Mosque), built in 1214. A 13th-century Alâiye religious school now houses the local museum. The towns citadel dates from that early age and the foundations of the Temple of Serapis is to be found on the grounds of the Archaeological Museum where some beautiful golden icons are displayed. The 13th century Alâeddin Mosque, the Alaiye Madrasah, and the Balatlar Church are of interest in the city.

Gece Mavisi by ahmetakoz, on Flickr

Traditional nautical woodcarvings, good crystal and the original cotton clothes of the city are praiseworthy and unique, so you will want to have examples of these artifacts. The seaside hotels and holiday villages are really nice to sit in a fish restaurant by the harbor and watch the perfect combination of green and light blue while sipping your wine. Hamsilos Fjord, 11 km from the city center is the only fjord in the country.